Iris domestica

RHS Plant Profile

blackberry lily

Other common names

Chinese blackberry lily, Chinese leopard flower, dwarf tiger lily, leopard lily

Synonyms

Belamcanda chinensis 'Leopard Lily'
Belamcanda chinensis var. curtata
Belamcanda flabellata
Belamcanda chinensis
Belamcanda mixed

Herbaceous Perennial

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Has narrow leaves to 20cm long, and yellow of reddish-orange flowers 4cm wide, heavily spotted with deep red, and followed by green seed pods splitting to reveal several conspicuous, glossy black seeds

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrow leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in a sunny position, in moist but well-drained, ideally neutral to slightly acid soil. Will tolerate some dappled shade, though they flower best in full sun. Mulch in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a cold frame in spring. Divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wall side borders
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to aphid-borne viruses, bacterial soft rot and grey moulds; see Iris diseases